遗忘 (yí wàng) — to forget (usually something abstract or important)

Definition

遗忘 (yíwàng) is a more formal, written word for 'to forget,' often for abstract or important things like lessons or memories, stronger and more literary than the everyday 忘记 or 忘.

verb
to forget (usually something abstract or important)

Examples

  • 遗忘。
    Wǒ men bù néng yí wàng lì shǐ de jiào xùn.
    We must not forget the lessons of history.
  • ，遗忘。
    Shí jiān jiǔ le, wǒ yí wàng le tā de míng zì.
    After a long time, I forgot her name.
  • 遗忘。
    Tā yí wàng le míng tiān de yuē huì.
    He forgot about tomorrow's appointment.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

遗yíforget
忘wàngforget

遗忘 combines 遗 (forget) and 忘 (forget) to mean forget or cease to think about.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 遺; 遗 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辶Written in full as辵chuòmove
Sound part声符shēngfú
貴
貴guì遺yí
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 遺 pairs 辶 (move) with 貴 as a sound part; the simplified 遗 is a shorthand, and its right side is not the old sound part.

Open 遗 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
亡
亡wáng忘wàng
Same sound today

忘 combines 亡, which gives the sound, with 心 (“heart”), showing the sense is about the heart or mind.

Open 忘 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Thinking & Cognition

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